October 28, 2025 · Ruth 4:13–15

Unexpected Hope (Tyndale University Chapel)

“The hope that these people had wasn't any hope, it was a hope in God himself. It was a hope that he would provide. They talked about being blessed by God over and over again. Ruth says, I will worship this God and they point to a future hope. This hope of the child between Boaz and Ruth ends up being the hope of Jesus. Ever since Abraham, the people in Israel have been hoping for an answer to humanity's problems, to the sin problem. Israel's waiting and hoping that God would give them a land, he would give them descendants, temples, prophets and Messiah, and when Jesus appears on the scene, he claims, I am the hope you were looking for. He preached a message of audacious hope. Had a graciously spacious scope. The blind who hoped to see life could see the blue sky with their own two eyes. The deaf who had hoped to hear the beautiful music of the wind and the willows, listened to the crickets when in bed hit their pillows. The crippled and lame who walked, again, had hoped and they ran into the ripples and the waves of the water. So we know somewhere is long gone and the deadlines are piling up, and there's turmoil all around in our economy and our country. We need to remember that God gives hope. Whatever is happening, if it's happening here at the university, if it's happening at home, if it's happening at church, if it's happening out in the streets, God can bring peace, joy, love and hope. Winter is coming, have hope.”